U calling me colored ?

This poem was nominated for Best Poem of 2005, written by an African Kid

When I born, I Black
When I grow up, I Black
When I go in sun, I Black
When I sick, I Black, and
When I die, I still Black

And U White fella,
When u born, u pink
When u grow up, u white
When u go in sun, u red
When u cold, u blue
When u scared, u yellow
When u sick, u green, and
When u die, u gray

And … you calling me colored ?

Why Men R Happier

(This was gotten from starmag@thestar.com.my 08 Jul 07, originally written by sathiawathy veerasamy)

Your last name stays put
The garage is all yours
Wedding plans take care of themselves
Chocolate is just another snack

You can be president
You can never be pregnant
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park
You can wear no T-shirt to a water park

Car mechanics tell you the truth
The world is your urinal
You never have to drive to another petrol station toilet because this one is just too-icky
You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt
Same work, more pay
Wrinkles add character
People never stare at your chest when you are talking to them

The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected
New shoes don’t cut, blister, or mangle your feet
One mood – all the time
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat
You know stuff about tanks

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase
You can open all your own jars
You can get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend

Your underwear is RM 15.00 for a pack of three
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough
You almost never have strap problems in public
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes
Everything on your face stays its original color
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades
You only have to shave your face and neck

You can play with toys all your life
Your belly usually hides your big hips
One wallet and one pair of shoes one color for all seasons

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look
You can do your nails with a pocket knife
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24th in 25 minutes !

The EXORDIUM - Al Fatihah

In the name of Allah
The Compassionate
The Merciful

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Creation
The Compassionate, The Merciful
King of the Last Judgment

You alone we worship,
and You alone we pray for help

Guide us to the straight path
The path of those whom You have favored
Not of those who have incurred Your wrath
Nor of those who have gone astray

Amiin.

To Boot or Not To Boot

TIPS ON HOW TO CHOOSE THE "RIGHT" TREKKING BOOTS / SHOES.

Trekking boots.

The most important piece of equipment for a hiker is a sturdy footwear. A reasonably good pair of hiking boots can be purchased new for anywhere from RM100 to RM200. More is probably unnecessary (except for fashion and glam !) and less isn't likely to buy you a good product.

But if you're on a tight budget, of course you can look at second-hand or "bundle" stores for hiking boots. Sometimes if you are lucky, you may get one which is still new. But if you do this, make sure that your footwear is in good condition before testing it on the trail.

Good hiking boots will have strong tread, tight, secure laces, and reasonably waterproof construction. If you don't have good tread, you won't be able to navigate muddy or steep terrain well, and you put yourself at the risk of injury.

If you don't have good laces, then you won't be able to keep the boots on your feet, and you'll face problems like the hassle of retying your laces every few steps or the possibility of tripping and hurting yourself (and other trekking mates too !)

And if it's not waterproof, you won't be able to navigate water on the trail comfortably, which you'll almost certainly encounter at most destinations especially in our Malaysian jungle terrain !

Don't be shy to ask appropriate questions to the salesperson and make sure your new boots are extremely comfortable before you make the purchase and leave the store. A little bit of foresight now will save you countless problems down the line.

Remember : while on the trail, your feet are your most valuable possession, so take care of them !

What about other shoes ?

If you can't afford hiking boots, or if you simply don't want to use them for whatever reason - tennis shoes can also serve you well if they're in good condition. Again, make sure you have good tread, good laces, and a design that'll keep out as much water as possible.

And whatever footwear you choose, try to make the time to "break them in" appropriately before you start your trek. Trekking with a brand new shoe is a no-no ! New shoes are often stiff and tight in places, but after a few hours of walking, you'll definitely feel the difference between a "broken-in" pair of shoes and a "fresh-out-of-the-box" pair ...

Happy trekking !

DON'T CONDEMN, BUT CONTRIBUTE !

Sorry guys, no new postings 4 quite sometime. Been quite busy lately ... but today I've one. Happy reading !

We have a natural tendency to complain about the slightest problem and discontentment. No doubt some grouses are legitimate and “deserved” to be complained about, but most are sometimes embarrassingly unreasonable.

Yes, we are a democratic nation, and yes, we have freedom of speech – but honestly, some of the complaints and issues brought up at times can be ludicrous, and even hilarious.

Actually, there are many things in our day-to-day life that have improved tremendously that we sometimes take for granted. There is so much to be grateful for.

The fact that we woke up this morning, after sleeping comfortably, in the love of the family members, is already something to be thankful for. People in our neighboring country are losing loved ones and homes, and experiencing tragic disasters.

I am not suggesting that we should not address our problems. It is easy to be a spectator and just throw our opinions in the open without backing them up with action. Walk your talk. We must cooperate collectively as a community to ensure the welfare of the nation.

Lets put our thoughts into mature perspective, and be truly grateful for the many things that we do have.

In this fast-paced world, we have more demands and higher expectations. We want things done immediately in an instant. If our life could be like a vending machine, we will be most gratified.

There was a time when we had to queue up overnight just to get a number to get an application form for a passport. If you survive this stage, you will have to pray hard that the counters don’t close before your number is called. And getting one’s road tax and license renewed was a case of either paying off the touts or enduring multiple trips to the nearest RTD office.

Today, one can get a passport in two hours. The cynic will immediately say that this is only available in a small office and it is nothing to shout about unless it is available nationwide.

Never mind the naysayer. The fact of the matter is that the majority of us appreciate these positive changes and though we may not say it openly, we know our quality of life has improved tremendously.

So let us learn to appreciate such blessings in our lives, and the people who make them happen. Cheer when things improve. Let's do things today better than we did yesterday.

Don’t condemn, but contribute.